Two-sport Marquez focusing on Red Raiders

Updated 10:02 am, Monday, April 28, 2014

Photo: Edyta Blaszczyk / Odessa American

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Texas Tech wide receiver Bradley Marquez, handing his gloves to 8-year-old Caden Creswell of Midland, received a $325,000 signing bonus from the New York Mets after he was selected in the 16th round of the 2011 draft but is concentrating on football for now.

Texas Tech wide receiver Bradley Marquez, handing his gloves to 8-year-old Caden Creswell of Midland, received a $325,000 signing bonus from the New York Mets after he was selected in the 16th round of the 2011

Bradley Marquez's 12.9 yard average led Tech receivers with at least 16 receptions, a good sign with MacArthur-ex Jace Amaro going pro.

Bradley Marquez's 12.9 yard average led Tech receivers with at least 16 receptions, a good sign with MacArthur-ex Jace Amaro going pro.

Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images

Two-sport Marquez focusing on Red Raiders

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LUBBOCK — Since starting his athletic career, Bradley Marquez always wondered what he could have accomplished by concentrating on merely one sport.

In the spring, there was track, quickly spinning into baseball season. In the late summer, football rolled around. After that came basketball. Then the cycle began again.

Eventually, Marquez evolved into a dazzling football and baseball prospect. He was good enough to be signed out of high school by the New York Mets while balancing a football career at Texas Tech.

“If I had given my all to just one sport year-round at some point, I believe I definitely would have reached my fullest potential,” Marquez said. “But I'm happy with the results I've had in baseball and football. It's something I've enjoyed doing.”

Marquez has decided to put his fledgling baseball career with the Mets on hold for a few months while he trains in earnest for his upcoming senior season with the Red Raiders.

After a strong performance during spring drills, Marquez has a chance to become a featured receiver in coach Kliff Kingsbury's high-powered offensive attack.

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“I want to go out and try to reach my potential in football,” Marquez said. “I feel like I definitely have a lot more left in me that I can give to this program. So it's something I'm excited about.”

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Marquez's speed and fearlessness has made him the favorite to emerge as the “Y,” or key slot receiver in the Red Raiders' offense.

Marquez produced 49 receptions for 633 yards last season, and his 12.9 yards-per-catch average was Tech's best for receivers with at least 16 receptions.

The potential is there for much more this season from the Odessa product, considering the production of Kingsbury's last two slot receivers. Ryan Swope at Texas A&M in 2012 and Jace Amaro at Tech last season averaged 89 receptions, 1,132.5 yards and 7.5 touchdowns from the featured position.

Amaro became one of the most productive receivers in Big 12 history in his one season under Kingsbury. Marquez could be the next.

“Being able to fill that void is something I'm excited about,” Marquez said. “Hopefully, I can follow in the same footsteps as Jace, and it's something I definitely will work to do it.”

Marquez has moved into quarterback Davis Webb's house this summer to help with his football immersion. He has many roles with the Red Raiders, serving as their primary holder for kicks and a kick returner to go with his receiving duties.

While Marquez doesn't have Amaro's size, Kingsbury said he could provide a different element to the offense.

“Brad is a faster, smaller version,” Kingsbury said. “We'll be a little smaller across the board this season, but the speed will pick up, and I think Brad will translate well into that position. We'll do different things with him than we asked Jace to do. We've got to be good in adapting to our personnel.”

Webb said his housemate could be ready to fill Amaro's ample role in Tech's offense.

“Jace is fast, but Brad has that explosive ability, and Brad is a great blocker like Jace,” Webb said. “They are both pretty similar, maybe not in size and stature, but in how they play. I know that Brad has a chance to really make a move this year.”

Marquez received a $325,000 signing bonus from the Mets after he was selected in the 16th round of the 2011 draft. But it was paid in installments, and much was left on the table in order to continue playing for the Red Raiders.

His minor-league career has been limited to two five-week stints in the Appalachian League during the past two summers. He showed flashes last season, hitting .250 in 27 games with Kingsport while playing center and left field for the Mets' rookie-league affiliate.

New York farm director Paul DePodesta said the Mets believe Marquez could develop into a top baseball prospect if he dedicated himself to the sport.

“We drafted Bradley because we thought he had plenty of ability, and we still do,” DePodesta said. “But it's really hard to make a true assessment of his talent right now because he's spent such limited time with us. We still think he has a bright future in baseball.”

DePodesta knows a little bit about football after starting his career working in the front office of the old Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League in his first job in professional sports. That perhaps gives him an appreciation of what Marquez is trying to accomplish in his senior season at Tech.

It's also clear that Marquez still has a long way before he's legitimately challenging for playing time at Citi Field. A lot of work remains, but the Mets' future in center field — at least in their farm system — appears fluid. A recent Baseball America evaluation of prospects did not have a Mets farmhand listed among its top 30 center field prospects.

Marquez is considered one of the fastest players in the organization and twice has been ranked by Baseball America as the best athlete in the Mets' system. That speed should give him the opportunity to return to the Mets' organization after his Tech career.

“I could see him after the season being a full-time baseball player,” Kingsbury said. “That might end up being his path. But he wanted to make sure there were no regrets on this deal by giving it his all one summer because he's always left and come back.”